Did you know there was more than one reason to celebrate this time of year?
Not only is it a time to wear fun costumes in celebration of Halloween, but October is also National Orthodontic Health Month! It’s funny how these two seemingly unrelated topics actually have quite a bit to do with each other.
That’s because Halloween, as you know, is a festival of sugary goodness, the season of the giant, overflowing candy bowl that sits on your kitchen counter. But all that extra sweetness must come with extra vigilance when it comes to protecting your teeth from cavities and keeping your smile healthy and beautiful.
Orthodontics are just one avenue toward your most attractive smile. Put the two together, and you have the perfect reason to devote the blog helpful ways to protect your orthodontic health even while you’re celebrating a season where candy rains down abundantly!
At Cosmetic Dental Associates, you’re not limited to traditional orthodontic treatment. Any of our patients who take the Invisalign route to straighten their teeth don’t really have to worry too much about restricting the types of candy they enjoy this time of year because they can remove the aligners when it’s time to indulge.
But in some cases, traditional braces are the way to go for patients, and anyone wearing them will need some extra help this Halloween. That’s what we’re here for!

Celebrate Halloween In A Teeth-Friendly Way!

It may seem like a wasted effort to talk about a teeth-friendly Halloween. Candy is a staple of the holiday, and it’s one of the main reasons kids look forward to it so much. It’s one of the few times of the year where our sugar intake spikes just long enough to raise concerns about tooth decay.
And it makes sense. Too much sugar is bad for your teeth. That’s nothing new. Harmful bacteria live in your mouth and are fed by the sugar you eat. This is followed by the creation of acids that erode your tooth enamel. Thus, the floodgates are opened for all sorts of dental problems, tooth decay among them.
So the particular concern with Halloween is that you’re not just eating more sugar, but you’re eating more sugar over longer periods of time, in many cases, so the bacteria have so much more opportunity to wreak havoc on your teeth and gums.
But with all this said, that doesn’t mean we should just throw our hands up in defeat and tell ourselves it’s just once a year. Actually, being a bit more careful on Halloween is not a wasted effort at all. You can enjoy that holiday, candy and all, as long as you limit your candy intake each day, and avoid candy that’s stickier and harder to clean off of your teeth.

Celebrate October Even With Braces!

You can also enjoy Halloween even if you’re wearing braces! There’s some good news!
With orthodontic treatment, you do have to take a little extra time and care to keep your braces and your teeth protected. So here are a few helpful suggestions on how to do that!
-Stay away from caramel, including caramel apples.
-Avoid hard candy that takes longer to dissolve or that might damage your teeth when biting it.
-Be careful when it comes to popcorn, especially if it’s not fully popped or is held together with gooey sweetness.
-Say no to bubble gum, not just on Halloween, but for the duration of your treatment.
By knowing the risks certain types of candy pose to your dental work and your teeth in general, you can avoid those potential pitfalls, enjoy Halloween candy, and still have a great time this season!

Braces Don’t Have To Spoil Your October Fun!

You can always call Cosmetic Dental Associates if you have questions or concerns about you or your child’s orthodontic treatment this Halloween. Better yet, why not schedule a dental checkup after Halloween is over? It’s the perfect time to get some professional reinforcement after all the sugary treats have been eaten, just to make sure your teeth and gums made it out okay!
Call our San Antonio office today at 210-951-4444 (Medical Center) 210-942-5047 (Alamo Ranch) or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.